Improvement in percussion apparatus for explosive shells



J. J. SCHIL'LINGERJ Shell-Fuse.

Patented Ma'r 8, 1863.

limran STTES ATENT rrrcn IMPROVEMENT IN PE RCUSSION APPARATUS FOR EXPLOSlVE SHELLS.

Specification lbrming part ol' Letters Patcnt No. 37,3%30, dntcd March 3,

TO (oll 'lll/10712] it may OOILOWL:

Be it known that I, J onN J. SCIULLINGER, of YVashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a new and Improved Mode of l'gniting the Charge of and Exploding Shells; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the anneXed drawings, making a part of this Specification, in which- Figure l is a side view. Fig. 2 is an end view. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section. Fig. -fil is a transverse section.

Similar letters of reference in each of the several figures indicate corrcsponding parts.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in the construction of' shells, whereby the explosion of the same is I grcatly facilitatech' and also the iminediate 1 ignition of the charge of the shell is caused as l soon as the shell Strikes the ground or any other rcsisting object.

The nature of my invention consists in dividing the hollow space 01' a shell into two chambers, one of which will contain the charge of powder and the other will F contain a plunger; and my invention consists in the peculiar manner of fastening said plunger to the rear end of the shell.

To enable othersskillcd :in the art to make and use my iuvention, I will procced to dc- I soribe its construction and operation.

The projectile A, of cast-iron or cast-steel, and any agreeable shape-in our case of cylindro-conical f0r1n-inay have a base-ring,B, of brass, lead, or other metal, of suflicient softness to expand into the grooves of rifled ordnance, which ring B may be shapedi as shown in section on Fig. 3. This projcctile A is divided into two chanibers, E and F, (see Fig. 3,) separated by the collar I, provided to receive a short cylindrical scrcw, D, which screw has to carry the piston or nipple H, on which the percussion cap iwill be placed. The Chamber E is' intended to receive the charge of powder, and the Chamber l? is intended to contain a plunger, G, of a cylindrical or little tapering form. A short cylindrical serew, C, at the lower end of the projectile, closes the Chamber F after the insertion of the plunger G. Both short screws l) and C are provided with key'holes a a Z] b, to l enable the screwing in and out by means of a common key. The Chamber F is provided with four or more cavities, leaving the ribs m m m m, to facilitate the eXplosion of the lower or rear part of the projectile,' after the short cylindrical sc'rew D has been drivcn into Chamber F by the gaseous products of the infiamed powder-oharge of Chamber E. The lower or rear end of the projectile A is perforated by two oblique holes, lt lt, of small diameters, uniformly inclined toward the axis of the projectile, to allow the insertion of a cord of more Or less thickness, according to the size of the projectile and that of the plunger G. Screw Chamber F are provided with projecting rings or collarsg g and ff, to prevent the screws D and C to be screwed in too far. The plunger Gis fastened to and kept in its position in the recess c of screw C by a cord,- k L k, passing through the cylindrical perforations 71 71, around the head of the plunger G, and fast ened outside of the shell by a knot, Z. This cord ln' k k maybe imprcgnated with saltpeter or any other substance favoring burning, il"

found necessary.

It will easily be understood that when a cannon loaded with my projectile will be 'discharged the portion Z of cord L 70 In being outside of the projectile and exposed to the infianied gunpowder of the cannon, will be burned, and therefore the fastening of plunger G destroyed. The plunger G will be: carried with the projectile, assuniing the same Velocity and a corresponding niomentum. As soon as the projcctile Strikes the ground or the object at which it has been fired, the plunger G will move forward on the percussion-cap, and by a stroke corresponding to the inomentum assumed ignite the charge of powder in Chamber E, exploding consequentl y the projectile.

I do not limit myself to a certain shape ol' projectile, or to a peculiar form ofplunger, nor do I limit myself to a certain material for the cord holding-the plunger in its proper position before the projectile is tired.

I do not claim the employment of a pluir ger, knowing that it has been used before; but

XVhatI claim as new and of my invention,

and want to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Dividing the interior space 'Wil of a shcll or I) and the termination of the hollow part Of a projeetle into two sepzL Tate ehambers, One contanng the charge of owder, the Other eontainng aplunger, when the said plunger s seeured to the Shell, as

hereinbefore Specified. ftnessesz 2. Fastening the said phmger to the end 01 1 MCKENNA, Tear part of the Shell Or projectile by means F. I. MURPHEY.

of a eombustible cord, in the manner and for 

